Apparatus for cooling and carbonating potable liquids



Nov. 8, 1932.

H. S. CORNISH APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND CARBONATING POTABLE LIQUIDS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1928 mm m n y EC; 0 m w W .A Q Q Q m J mv QM. F J H@U U m T J rmfl, xv n 7 f v W .ix V l 7 WY x v mm H. S.CORNISH Nov. 8, 1932.

APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND CARBONATING POTABLE LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 21, 1928 R Y o E Tr N mwwm ms i .19 A r Patented Nov. 8,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY s. coamsn, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application flld March 21, 1928. Serial No; 263,226.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for employing anartificial ice such for instance as CO2 ice for purposes ofrefrigeration and utilizing the gas released 5 from the ice in itscooling action to charge a liquid preferably for the purpose ofincreasing its potability.

As the invention is especially useful in producing a carbonated liquidor soda water I will describe the invention as applied to the productionof a liquid charged with carbon dioxide or carbonic gas derived from themelting or evaporation of CO2 ice or other ice secured by the release ofa gas at high pressure 4 containing carbon dioxide or otherwiseproduced. 1'

In order that the nature of my invention may be more readily understoodand distinguished from the prior art a brief reference will be made toprior practice in the art of carbonating liquids and to certainobjectionable features' thereof which it is the aim of the presentinvention to avoid.

Carbon dioxide as usually employed for carbonating liquids is shipped indrums or containers under very heavy pressure and in order to carbonatethe liquid in a carbonator body or container of such liquid the drum isconnected with said carbonator and the contents are released into thecarbonator body at a lesser pressure which however may be as much as 120to 175 pounds pressure. against which pressure pumps are used to forcethe water or liquid to be carbonated into the body where the CO2 andwater are, in some cases,

A agitated or stirred by a mechanical mixer operated by any suitablepower, as for instance the motor or power which operates the pump. p

In some cases the carbonators have no agitator but rely on the pumpforcing the water into the carbonator body above the body of watertherein and through a spray head which is intended to aid carbonationThe drums or containers usually emplbyed for the CO2 contain CO2liquefied at about 1000 pounds pressure and when used in connection withthe carbonator a reducing valve and gauge is interposed between them tocut down the pressure to say 150 pounds. The

drums are heavy and frequently weigh as much as 110 pounds and carryonly 50 pounds of liquid CO2, a total of about 160 pounds to deliver 50pounds of CO2. These tubes or drums being heavy, frequently become damaged giving rise to the necessity for repair, while the return freightmust be paid on the empty, and inasmuch as it takes a long time Qordinarily to use up the contents, theannual expense of turn-over makesthe drums a so heavy expense of the business. Furthermore the highpressures bring a heavy strain on the entire system which isparticularly objectionable in the case of carbonators from whichcarbonated liquid is supplied to draft 85' arms of a soda water fountainor to other outlets for other purposes. This high pressure gives rise tocostly leaks of carbonated water and 002. Also carelessness on the partof the operator may causethe entire pressure in a drum to be suddenlythrown into the serving system with serious results.

On an average, over 2 pounds of liquid CO2 is returned from thepurchaser in an empty drum, because if the carbonator is set at say 120pounds, when the pressure in the drum is down to 120, there is stillover 2 pounds of CO2 left in the drum, but the operator must treat it asempty. Stronger pumps an more current must be used to force the wateragainst these higher pressures in the carbonator. This means also wear'on packings and other equipment, leading to costly leaks andreplacements.

The mechanical carbonator, withits agi l ator, is intended to hasten themixture for use where large volumes of business require big supplies ofcarbonated water. These pumps are started and stopped by variousdevices, some using a small tank that fills and empties with thecarbonat or body,,others by balancing the weight of the water in thecarbonator body by various devices, the movement of such devices openingand closing the motor switch. 7 None of the present carbona-tors mix 9the CO2 and water outside the carbonator body. The agitators will notprovide wellcarbonated water if said water is being drawn at the draftarm or on the'bottling machine as fast as the pump will supply the waterto no the carbonator, and at all times the tendency of the agitator isto knock the CO2 out of the water a out as fast as it is supposed to putit in. Tests prove this.

Present carbonators are connected up (usually, but some have storagewater tanks. in between) directly to the city water pressure, so that asthe city pressure varies the delivery speed (amount of water pumped) ofthe pump-varies. In the present standard carbonator this variation makesno difference (and where a storage tank is used the pressure isconstant, same as in my proposed construction) because water is pumpedagainst CO2 and is agitated. But none of the present carbonators haveany means for fixing the proportion of CO2 and water even where astorage tank is used. 7

In place of the drums containing CO2 under heavy pressure, as heretoforeemployed in the art, I propose to utilize CO2 in solid form (ice) as arefrigerant for any purpose, as for instance for cooling or icin theliquid to be carbonated after carbonatlon and to employ the CO2 releasedby the evaporation thereof in the coolin action as the gas forcarbonating the liqui Preferably the liquid carbonated by such as isstored or delivered into a carbonator bo y or tank ready for use, but itwould be within my invention to deliver it directly from the liquid andgas pumps constructed and operated as hereinafter more particularlydescribed. As well understood, 002 may be produced in'solid form (ice)by releasing the liquid CO2 in a suitable construction where it turns tosnow which may be pressed'into blocks of desired shape, and so used as arefrigerant, the temperature of such CO2 solid being 117 below zeroFahrenheit, as compared with water ice temperature of 32 above zeroFahrenheit.

When placed in a chamber to be used asa refrigerant solid CO2 evaporatesand in evap; orating produces the refrigeration and, being heavier thanair (it may be poured, the same as water) it goes to the bottom of anycompartment, forces out the-air, until eventually the compartment isfilled with evaporated CO2 when evaporation takes place more slowly.Heretofore such evaporated CO2 has not been utilizedyexcept torefrigerate, al-

though it is exactly the same as when CO2 is taken from a drum to beused for carbonation. To utilize this evaporated CO2 will accomplish atleast two things,-lessen the expense of both refrigeration adcarbonation, and enable the shipment of solid CO2 instead of liquid indrums, in a package such as a light paper or cardboard wrapper that maybe thrown away, with the consequent big saving in expense. To accomplishthis a new construction must be used for the carbonation, for obviouslypresent carbonators have no provision for utilizing this evaporated CO2,

nor even liquid CO2 without pressure. Where solid CO2 is now used as arefrigerant, a drum of liquid CO2 is required for carbonation. v A partof my present invention relates to the special means whereby thereleased C02 gas which is at comparatively lowpressure' or any othersource of CO2 gas at low pressure may be brought into contact, atsufficient pressure, with the liquidto be carbonated. This part of myinvention comprises essentially a gas compression pump conthe gas pumpfor supplying thewater to the carbonator. I v

In using solid CO2 as a refrigerant, if they evaporating is accelerated,a-higher efliciencyof refrigeration results, but if the CO2 is used as arefrigerant only, the expense is increased, whereas by utilizing theevaporated CO2 for subsequent carbo'natiomthe double use makes up forthe increased solid CO2 consumption thereby increasing efficiency allaround. And. by inclosing the entireproposed construction withinarefrigerator, a soda fountain for instance, every possible unit ofsolidCO2 efficiency may be utilized to advantage including, control ofrefrigeration, which means evaporation control. r 4 Referring to theaccompanyingdrawings:;- Fig. 1 shows in side elevationand'partialsection apparatus adapted for; the practicing of myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical. section through a part of theapparatus in its p're.-. ferred form. w 1 At 1, Fig. .1, is indicated atable, shelf or "counter forming the top part of a casing or .heatinsulatingwalls asindicated at 5. said container formsa receptacle forthe CO2 ice. supported therein preferably in a solid cake upon asuitable tray or horizontal'partition 6 located, at an intermediatepoint in the height of the inner casing or container 7.

I The lower part of the container 7 may form- H a tank for water whichis-to be cooled'a'nd.

which may be delivered to .the carbonating tank is provided withdevicesfor maintaining a constant level of'the water or liquidtherein,said devices comprising the usual float 8 and valve 9 through whichwater is supplied from a suitable source, as for instance through theconnecting pipes 10, 11, deriving supply from the city water main orother source. Pipe 11 is continued into a pipe 12 having a suitableshut-off valve 13 through which water may be passed directly to thecarbonating apparatus in case the supply from the constant level tankdescribed should, for any reason, fail. The delivery of water from thelatter tank is through pipe 14 from which it passes to pipe 15 fordelivery to the carbonating apparatus.- Pipe 12 is connected to pipe 15through a T-joint, as shown, so that 15 may draw its supply either fromthe tank or directly from the main or pipe 10 as just stated. 4

Periorations 16 in the container 7 permit Y the evaporated CO2 gas toescape into the lower portionof'the space surrounding said tank, fromwhich it may pass through the outlet pipe 19 to pipe 20 for delivery tothe compression pump employed, as will be presently described, incarbonating the liquid. Other perforations 21 in the side of tank 7permit some of the gas to enter the space above the liquid where it willrest upon the top of the water and will be partially ab sorbed thereby.As the water supplied to the carbonator gas pump is thus refrigerateditwill more readily absorb CO2 for carbonation due to the'fact that, aswell known, water will more readily absorb CO2 at low temperatures.

In the container 4 I prefer to employ two coils through which water maybe circulated for cooling by the CO2 ice. One of these coils, indicatedat 22, may be connected directly at one end with the main 10. through ashut-oft" valve 23 and the riser 24. The other end of said coil isjoined in the outlet pipe 24 forming a riser which terminates in thepipe3. The other coil 25 is supplied with carbonated liquid through a pipe26 leading from the carbonating apparatus and delivers cooled carbonatedliquid to the riser 27 terminating in the outlet pipe or connection 2.Obviously the cooling efi'ect of the CO2 is expended also in cooling theliquid in said coils and the gas thereby released collects in the lowerpart of the container for delivery through pipes 19 and 20 to thecarbonator.

Gas for the carbonating purposes maybe supplied separately or inconjunction with that released in the compartment or container '4 byprovidin a separate compartment 28 in which the O2 ice maybe employedfor refrigerating ice cream packers, as shown,

- while the gas released from the ice and collecting in said compartmentispassed to the pipe 20 through outlet 29 for use separately or inconjunction with that partment 4.

As will-be seen, these devices provide (a) for storage and distributionof the CO2 gas derived fromevaporation of the solid CO2 employed in arefrigerating enclosure and for passing the gas to the carbonator; (b)for pre-cooling the water supply to the carbonator or to the dispensingoutlets or drafts for either carbonated or uncarbonated liquid; (0)provides for a constant pressure or head of the liquid to the carbonatorpump whereby a predetermined flow to a mixing chamber may be assured inconjunction with the car bonating gas. By this latter feature the use ofa constant pressure diaphragm valve for securing constant flow with alow pressure is avoided, which is very desirable since a valve for suchlow pressure would have to be abnormally large, say four feet indiameter.

At 30 is indicated a gas pump of any dereleased in com-- sired or usualconstruction which takes the tank in container 4. Pumps 30, 31, aredriven in the usual or any desired way from an electric motor 32 orother source of power .regulated in its action as will be presentlydescribed.

On each pump is a gauge 33 indicating the drawing pressure of each. Bymeans of suitable reducing or adjusting valves 34: connectedto theoutlets of the pumps this drawing pressure may be fixed so that thedischarge of each may be controlled as to amount delivered by' each in agiven time. To enable this to be readily done the dials or scales onthevalves 34 may be provided with figures corresponding to the figureson the gauges 33. 'lhisenables the proportion of the mixture of CO2 andwater to be fixed or regulated so that the desired amount of each passesforward to the mixer through the union 35 and pipe 36 toa suitable mixer37, whence the mixture passes through an outlet 38 into a carbonatorbody 39 wherein the carbonated liquid is stored under pressure ready fordelivery through an outlet pipe 40 connecting with the pipe 26 and withthe draft arm outlet 2 through, preferably, the cooling coil alreadydescribed.

The mixer may be constructed on the in .for use. If desired the mixer 37may be dispensed with and the gas and water delivered from the pumps 30,31, directly into the carof the carbonator and its contents increases,,-

I sure in t e s stem at all times.

bonator body or storage tank 39.

Preferably the operation of the pumps is.

to the weight 41 is an arm 43 terminating in a suitable switch box 44whereby the motor 32 may be stopped and started as the weight rises andfalls under the weight of the carbonator 39 and its contents. When theweight decreases by withdrawal of water from the carbonator body throughpipe 26 and draft arm, the counterbalancing weight 41 will fall therebyoperating the starting switch 44 to cause the pumps to operate andreplenish the supply in the tank or carbonator 39. When, through suchsupply, the weight the weight 41 will be raised thereby raising theconnection 43 and operating the switch to stop the action of the pumps.

At 45 is indicated a pressure responsive device responsive to variationsof pressure within the carbonator body. Said pressure responsive deviceis connected with a suitable lever 46 through which it operates to throwa switch which controls the operation of the pumps b their motor toassure proper pres- At 47 is indicated a suitable snifting device whichoperates when the switch acts and serves to prevent the carbonator bodyor storage tank 39 from becoming gas or air bound.

Obviously the construction described, while designed for andparticularly adapted for use when the CO2 gas and water are supliedunder a low pressure and with constant liead for water, might beemployedin connection with water and CO2 under pressure to give thedesired proportion of CO2 and water delivery, this desired proportionbeing secured in any case by initial setting of the pump flows andregulating the valves 34.

The advantages of the construction described are:

. g (A) Adaptability for operation with extremely' low pressures andproviding thor-' ough carbonation at the'delivery point of thecarbonated liquid."

(B) The ability to utilize evaporated solid at ed by-u'tiliz'ing the CO2for refrigeration iscollected.

- (C) Making it possible to change from 2 high pressure to low pressurecarbonationin an emergency.

1 Ability to'adjust the "proportions of the mixture of the evaporatedsolid CO2 and water by the dials and gauges thatis positive, and fixedin its results. 1 a 1 E) O eration with a minimum of costly lea s anrepairs and consequent loss of service. v r

(F) Carbonation with lowest drum ressure if a drum of CO2 is used thusutilizing all the CO2.

(G) Ready'control of the proportions of v carbonation mixtures.

(H) Delivery of more highly carbonated water. Y

I (I) Utilizing the gases of 'evaporationof sohd CO2 employed to coolwater for carbonation.

As will be seen, the ap aratus described constitutes an equipment t atis a complete unit in itself and may be used as an attachment to orauxiliary to any present carbonator already in use. a

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of a cooler containing CO2 ice asa refrigerant andadapted to cause theice to be converted into gas by heat acquiredthrough the cooling operation taking. place within said cooler, said:cooler being provided with a suitable gas retainingspace or collectingthe CO2 gasof evaporation, means for introducing a substance to becooled into said cooler, a carbonator and: means for conveying said gasto and utilizing it as the carb'onating gas in said car-' bonator. 7 i a2. The combination with a closed containerfor CD2 ice having a gascollecting and retaining space for the gas liberated from the ice of aliquid cooling receptacle below the same and having a space above theliquid in communication withthe i'ce containing space? so that the CO2gas liberated in'the coolingaction of the ice may enter the space abovethe liquid and be absorbed by said liquid. I

3. The combination with arefrigerating apparatus employing as the 'refrierant: a: cooling agent which releases a car onating gas through itscooling action, and providedwith a container for said agent having asuit-' able gasexpanding sad collecting space, of a carbonator, agas-compression pump deliver ing gas to said carbonator and means for0011-? veylng the released-gas of evaporatlon from said container tosaid pump.

, In anapparatus for cooling and chug-j ing liquids-with CO2 gas, thecombination.

of a liquid cooling chamber containing CO2.

ice, a carbonat r, figascompression ,pumpconnected therewith, means forconveyingthe cooled liquidto the carbonatorand meansfor conveying theCO2, gas liberated in the cooling of the liquid-to. the compression 5.In "an apparatus. for l eliarging liquids:

with gas. the combination with a cooler. contain ng CO2 ice,v a liquidcooling cham-- ber therein, means for continually :maintaining the levelof liquid in the latter, a carbonator, a gas compression pump taking theCO2 gas liberated in the cooler and delivering it to the carbonator andmeans for conveying the liquid from the liquid cooling chamber to saidcarbonator.

6. In an apparatus employing CO2 ice as a refrigerant, the combinationwith the ice chamber of a liquid cooler at the bottom of the sameprovided with openings for conveying the CO2 gas liberated in thecooling operation to the surface of the liquid therein, a liquid pumpconnected with the liquid chamber and a gas compression pump to whichthe CO2 gas liberated in the cooling is conveyed and means forcarbonating the liquid supplied from the liquid pump with gas passedthrough the compression pump.

7. In an apparatus for cooling and charging liquids with CO2 gas, thecombination of a liquid cooling coil, a suitable cooling cham-' bertherefor containing CO2 ice, a carbonator connected to a gas compressingpump furnished with CO2 gas liberated from the ice in said coolingchamber, and means for passing the carbonated liquid through said coling coil.

8. The combination with a cooling chamber containing C432 ice, of aliquid container beneath the same, means for maintaining a constantlevel of liquid therein, a cooling coil cooled by the CO2 ice, means fordelivering the liquid from said coil to a connection for a dispensingoutlet, a carbonator, a gas compressing pump, and av liquid supply pumpconnected with said carbonator, piping connections for delivering theCO2 gas liberated in the cooling operation to said compressing pump andmeans for delivering the liquid cooled in said container. to said liquidsupply pump.

9. In an apparatus for 'carbonating and cooling liquids, the combinationwith a container for CO2 ice of two coils therein, means for passinguncharged liquid through one of said coils, a carbonator, a gascompression pump connected to said carbonator and deriving CO2 gas fromasupply consisting of the CO2 gas liberated in the coolingoperation, andmeans for passing the charged liquid from the carbonator through theother of said coils to an outlet pipe or connection.

10. In an apparatus for dispensing car'- bonated liquids, thecombination of a cooler comprising a closed container provided withmeans for supporting a solid block of CO2 ice, a mixer, a gascompression pump and 'a liquid supply pump both connected with saidmixer and 'means for delivering CO2 gas liberated from the ice in thecooler to the compression'pump.

11. In an apparatus for carbonating liquids, the combination with acarbonator tank provided with a gas compression pump and a liquid supplypump, means for autoratus, the combination of a cooling chamber adaptedto collect the CO2 gas liberated from CO2 ice contained therein, a watertank within said apparatus the water of which is exposed to the CO2 gasliberated in said chamber means for carbonating a liquid by theliberated CO2 gas and two individual cooling coils in said chamber onefor uncarbonated water or liquid and the other for car-,

bonated liquid carbonated by liberated CO2 13. The combination with acarbonator, a gas pump constructed for delivering gas to saidcarbonator, a cooler containing solid CQQ ice as a cooling agent, saidcooler being provided with a chamber for collecting and retaining theCO2 gas liberated from the ice and means for -supplying to said gas pumpthe CO2 gas liberated by the evaporation of said CO2 ice.

14. llhe combination with a cooling chamber sealed and provided withmeans for supporting-solid CO2 ice and having a space therein adapted tocollect CO2 gas liberated from CO2 ice used therein, a carbonator forcarbonating a liquid and means for withdrawing said COQ gas from saidspace and forcing the same into said carbonator.

15. The combination with a cooling chamber provided with means forcooling a liquid and adapted to collect CO2 gas liberated from CO2 iceused therein, of a carbonator, a liquid pump deriving its supply, ofliquid from said cooler and a gas pump delivering the liberated gas tothe carbonator and charging said liquid with said gas.

16. The combination with a sealed cooler provided with means forsupporting solid CO2 ice and adaptedto collect CO2 gas liberated fromCO2 ice therein, of a gas pump connected with said cooler for charging aliquid with said liberated CO2 gas and means for regulating the supplyof gas from the pump for carbonating purposes.

17. In an apparatus for carbonatingliq uids, the combination of a gaspump, a water pump, means for delivering to the water pump water cooledby COQ'ice, means for delivering to the gas pump CO2 gas liberated inthe cooling action, a mixer into which the output of the-two pumps isdelivered for carbonating the liquid and a storage tank or body intowhich the output from the mixer is fed. a

18. In a cooling and carbonating apparatus the combination of a sealedcontainer containing 002 ice in solid form, means for passing a liquidthrough the container to evaporate the ice, means-for carbonating a as1n liquid and means for conveying the said container released by theevaporatlon of said ice to the carbonating means.

19. In an apparatus for cooling and carbonating liquids the combinationof a coolbonating liquids, the combination with a mg refrigeratingcontainer for solid CO2 ic'e,' means for passing a fluid to be cooledthrough said container for cooling by the evaporation of said ice andmeans for carbonating liquid by the CO2 gas liberated from the solid CO2ice in the cooling operation. v y a 20. In an apparatus for cooling andcarcoolin or refrigerating chamber containin a coo ing agent whichliberates a liqui charging gas in its cooling operation and providedwith a gas collecting and retaining space, means for passing liquid tobe charged through said chamber in order to cool the ,same, a chargingdevice means for conveying the cooled liquid to said chargin device andmeans for conveying the release gas to said charging device for chargingsaid liquid. x

21. In a refrigerating and gas charging apparatus the combination of acooler adapted to support ablock of ice which vaporizes by heat absorbedin the cooling operation within the cooler and thereby liberatescharging gas, means for introducing a substance to be cooled into saidcooler, said cooler being provided with suitable gas retaining spaces inwhich the liberated gas may expand and collect, a chargingdevice andvmeans for withdrawing said liberated gas from saidcooler and utilizingit in the said charging devicefor. charging a liquid.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this20th day of March A. D.- 1928.

. HARRY S. CORNI'SH.

